Complaint: AV Water did not pay legal fees

AV Water owns two water systems in San Juan County and provides drinking water to thousands of residents.

Hannah Grover/The Daily Times

FARMINGTON — The law firm that represented the AV Water Co. from September 2011 until November 2017 has filed a lawsuit in district court alleging that the company owes more than $660,000 for legal fees.

According to the complaint, AV Water defaulted on paying its hourly rate and reimbursing out-of-pocket costs. The complaint states AV Water agreed to continue paying after it defaulted and also agreed to provide the Santa Fe-based law firm Gallagher & Kennedy with a security interest in its property. However, Gallagher & Kennedy alleges AV Water failed to pay or provide a security interest.

AV Water Co. attorney Germaine Chappelle, left, and Megan Marsee, community services coordinator for the New Mexico Environment Department's Drinking Water Bureau, address residents of the Harvest Gold subdivision during a meeting on Feb. 21, 2017. A Santa Fe law firm is suing the company for not paying its legal bills.

Daily Times file photo

A total of $660,150 currently remains unpaid, according to the complaint.

The complaint alleges that the company also owes more than $100,000 in interest and that the interest continues to accrue at a rate of $217.03 each day.